ALFRED, a village in Allegany county, N.Y., U.S.A., on the Erie railroad about 75 m. S.E. of Buffalo. It is situated among rugged hills, at the intersection of two valleys. The population was 639 in 193o.
On the west slope of Pine hill, 1,800 ft. above sea-level, is Alfred university (co-educational), which embraces a college (non-sectarian) and a theological seminary (Seventh-Day Bap tist). The enrolment in 1926-27 was 564. On grounds adjacent to the college campus, and administered by the university trustees, are the New York State school of clay-working and ceramics (established 'goo), a unique institution which confers degrees in ceramic engineering and in applied art, and a New York State school of agriculture (established rgo8). Alfred university traces its history to a "select school" organized in 1836, which devel oped into Alfred academy, chartered 1843. Three buildings were erected on the present campus in 1846, and in 1857 a university charter was secured.
Alfred lies within the territory purchased by Robert Norris in 1791, and is said to have been named after Alfred the Great. The first settlement was made in 1807. Most of the early settlers were Seventh-Day Baptists. The village was chartered in 1887.